Other Websites with Detailed Information:
Name Details:
Named By: Douglas Osborne, Robert Crabtree and Alan Bryan
Named For:
Date Identified: 1961
Type Site: Sheep Island Site, Benton County, Washington
Plateau Pentagonal
AKA: Wasco Knife (Wasco Tribe)
Cluster:
Commonly Utilized Material:
Date:
Cultural Period:
700 - 250 B.P.
Classic
Little Ice Age
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium to large
pentagonal knife with an elliptical cross section. The blade may vary from straight to slightly incurvate. The hafting
region of the base is straight to slightly contracting giving the knife a pentagonal shape. The base ranges from straight to slightly concave. This point has a random a parallel horizontal flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length - 44
to 82 mm, Max Blade Width - 22 to 41 mm
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the Columbia Plateau of Washington and Oregon and into western Idaho.
Related / Associated Points:
Additional Comments:
This type is associated with the Columbia Plateau, but exhausted triangular knifes take on this same form and are found throughout the Great Basin. Heavily re-sharpened points such as Atlatl Valley and
other triangular points would take on the same appearance.
These knives have also been referred to as Wasco Knifes the Wasco Native American Tribe which is one of the cultures that utilized this knife. This Tribe was centered around the Wasco County region of Oregon.
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Osbourne is anthropologist and Professor at the University of Washington who has conducted extensive studies into the archaeology of the Columbia Plateau. Crabtree was served in many professional roles
including Director of Archeology and Archaeological, Incorporated in California and Archaeologist for the BLM in Battle Mountain, Nevada. Bryan is an anthropologist and
professor at the University of Alberta. This type was named in a professional publication and has limited professional references. This is considered a valid type,
.
Age Details:
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
23, 30, 50
Plateau Pentagonal Projectile Point, Plateau Pentagonal Arrowhead
Wasco Projectile Point, Wasco Arrowhead
